Skipton scouts are hoping to raise the roof when they celebrate their 85th anniversary.

The 5th Skipton Parish Church Scout troop has launched an appeal for £10,000 to give its headquarters a facelift.

It is desperately in need of a new roof as all that seems to be holding out the rain is a layer of moss and grass which has grown across the top.

The headquarters, known as The Dump, off Newmarket Street, has been home to thousands of venture scouts, scouts, cubs and beavers for 85 years, and the troop thought the best way to celebrate its anniversary was to update the headquarters.

Acting scout leader Dale Nelson said: "Now the roof is 40 years old and is due for replacement. During last year's heavy storms it did leak."

He added that the roof was made of asbestos and the estimate was so high because of the removal costs.

The building was originally bought in the 1950s for the scout headquarters, but several years later a firework was pushed through the door and burnt down the building.

A purpose built headquarters was constructed on the site in 1964 by willing volunteers and parents of the scouts. Since then it has had no major maintenance work done on it.

Mr Nelson said that the problem was that although most of the present members were already involved in a few fundraising events, this money was being eaten up by camp costs and replacing equipment. "Without major sponsorship it is very difficult. Sponsored walks might make £200 to £300 but that could go on forever," he added.

He said that a spring fair in March had raised £1,000 but that had been a drop in the ocean as some of it had had to be spent on keeping the minibus on the road. "We cannot just say that from now on we are going to spend all our money on the roof," he added.

He pointed out that it was a shame for the headquarters to be left in such a poor state of repair as the unit had been running since 1915. "We are the oldest running troop in Skipton. There are troops that have shut and come back but we have never closed."

And he added that it was the only troop in the South Craven District to run all four sections and include both boys and girls. He added that there were about 70 members in total.

The busy scouts are already fundraising by taking part in a sponsored walk on July 16 to pay for a place on the county millennium camp at Ripley Castle. They would be delighted if any businesses could help them with the money for the roof so that all their fundraising could be spent on the fun side of scouting.

Anybody who can help should contact Mr Nelson on 01756 791173.

Marjory Greenwood would also like to hear from any former scouts, cubs or leaders to take part in a reunion to celebrate the 85th anniversary in October. She also wants old photos of the troop and can be contacted on 01756 792506.

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